scott vetterman - UT (submitted on 2006-10-27)
It was about 4 years ago and i was playing at my ward when this crazy man came in with a knife so i snuck up behind him and took him out with the martial art skill i got a JR. WEST POINT and i looked around grabed the ball and slam dunked the winning hoop it was sooo crazy and soo true but i blew out my legs when i landed so the put in some titanium antimantium bone stuff and now i have claws and no one looks at me like they want to fight anymore cuz they know if i get mad my claws come out ohhh yeah peace out kids
Paul Mair - UT (submitted on 2006-10-22)
Well it was the championship game, and we were wining 40-32. There was only like 20 seconds left in the game and a kid in our ward jumped infront of another kid and stuffed him. The ball went like 20ft high, and we all started screaming, "Oh my gosh did you see that?" The kid got a T, but he said it was totally worth it. He had to talk to our bishop, and our bishop just laughed and asked what do you mean stuffed him? The kid started to laugh and said, it's when your about to shoot, and somebody comes and knocks the ball out of your hands, which stops the ball to going in. The bishop said and i wasn't there to see it, can you do it again?! That was probably the most rememberable time in churchball ever. The kid went on to go on a mission in Brazil. To best of wishes to him.
Jeff Powell - WA (submitted on 2006-09-29)
Our stake likes to try and mix up the teams within our stake so that all the teams are fairly even. This last year fell a little short of even, though. My team wasn't the greatest out there compared to the other teams. By our second game, we had already gotten pretty good though. I, along with another teammate, were very depended upon to make a difference in the game. Our third game was against, in many peoples' opinions, the best team in the stake. They had many good players that were fast, good shots, good defense, and great leaders. Long story short, through some miracle, we were tied 41-41 at the end of the game! It was unbelievable! It was decided that we continue into overtime. We started play and within the first 30 seconds, the opposing team scored. I ran half way down the court and was thrown the ball, afterwhich I bolted to the basket. As I was nearing the basket, I knew 2 other guys were right next to me, so I had to shoot a quick lay-up. I jumped up and shot with my one free hand. I never watched the ball go in as I tied up the score again because I fell on my hands and broke my left wrist! It was so bad that if my wrist was turned sideways, you could make a letter "s" out of my wrist! I was rushed to the emergency room and named a basketball hero that day. They stopped the game at that point and left it at a tied score. I loved that game except for one detail I left out: our team that day was short one player of the minimum required to play, so our team had already automatically forfeited that game; we were playing pretty much for fun! The things you do for churchball!
Ben Blau - UT (submitted on 2006-09-25)
When I was a 14, we made it to regionals and were playing in the South Cache Valley Championship. We were down by 1 with time running out. I held the ball for the last shot. I decided to make a move with about 5 seconds left on the clock and, with the first dribble, bounced it off my foot. It rolled near the half court line. I dove and saved it and threw the ball to Big Nate Welker. He shot one of the prettiest rainbow jumpers from about 25 feet. The buzzer sounded while the ball skimmed the ceiling's flourecent lights. When it went it, I was flooded with emotion and started to sob tears of joy........ Three years later, while playing for my High School, we won a region championship. I was lifted on the shoulders of my teammates and cut down the nets in front of our home crowd and I DIDN'T EVEN SHED A TEAR. It's safe to say, that Big Nate's shot was the greatest moment I've ever had playing basketball.
Patrick Earl - WA (submitted on 2006-07-05)
It was the season of 1980. I had talked one of the best basketball players in town out of playing for the high school team and playing for our Juniors team for Moses Lake 6th Ward. The HS coach wasn't going to play him and I told Keith, "come play church ball and we will take it". I wasn't lieing. We played the entire season and 3 tournaments through Multi-Region played in Chenney, WA at the college and we only lost 2 games the entire year. Both of thoses games were on court with carpet on them so I don't really count them to much. The championship game was against our main rival Yakima 4th Ward. We had played them 4 times before this championship game played on the main court at Eastern State University. They had beat us twice and we had beat them twice. The game was intense. It was a battle. Keith our MVP was fouled in the end with 3 seconds to go and we were down by only 1. We thought YES we had this won. He ended up missing them both but on the rebound another teammate that could jump very well grabbed the ball and put it in for the win in regulaion. It was awesome. Church ball at its finest.
Anna - FL (submitted on 2006-06-29)
Our ward isn't very good at churchball. When we started the game it was all okay but a couple of us have really bad aim and kept hitting people in the head instead of passing it to eachother. Things started to get really funny when I accidentally hit the bishop, while he was talking to the leaders. He joined in and eventually so did most of the leaders. And then my friend ran into the table with all the refreshments. Which was interesting because it was supposed to be blessed and we really didn't expect anything to happen to it. And then another deacon really loves brownies kinda leaped over to the table in one go and did this really dramatic rescue of the brownies, which resulted in his fingertips only getting the edge of the tray and tipping it so they flew all over his face. And then to top the whole catastrophy off, someone threw the ball smack into my nose (I still have the bruise on my face) and I fell onto my other friend and she fell and fractured her wrist. It was really exciting. So by the time we were done we were all over the place, and really sore. We informed eachother how well we all played (even though we didn't). But I guess we just love eachother that way.
jeff - UT (submitted on 2006-06-05)
while a priest i was always voted as one of the best in the stake. but we were not having one of the best seasons and we were playing the first place team and we were the 4th place team. well we were down by a lot of points and i had a short temper and did not like to lose so with one second left in the game i saw a kid that i did not really like and he had the ball the last thing that i remember is that my fist and his face got to know each other and i was thrown out of the game and later had to talk with the bishop so that i could play again few games later we played the same team but i was much nicer.
Heath H. - CA (submitted on 2006-06-02)
Our new Stake President was worried about the sportsmanship and physicality of our basketball games. So, he decided to institute some new rules. (On a sidenote, this was never an issue previously as the past Stake President was often known to administer the "laying on of hands" in church league games.) One of the rules was that anyone called for a flagrant or technical foul would not be permitted to play again until he had spoken with his bishop and the bishop had cleared the player's name through the Stake sports director.
About halfway through the season, my ward's team was enjoying the best year we had had in about 7 years. A couple of new members had joined our team and a couple of us had returned to the ranks after being booted from the singles ward team because we no longer fit the requirement of bachelorhood.
When we faced the singles ward for the first time it was close battle all of the way through. We squeaked out a win by two points in the final minute. It was a good game and we all got on fine, no major incidents. So, at the closing prayer, I might sure to give thanks that nobody had been hurt and that the best team had won. We all had a little chuckle and a handshake as we walked off the court.
Now the trouble started the referee came right up in my face as a group of us were sitting down to watch the next game and he gave me a technical foul. Apparently, my closing prayer was unsportsmanlike. We all stood shocked, the game was over, everyone was friendly, how can you get a technical when the game is done? I thought it was kind of funny, but nobody else did. Everybody on the side of the gym that saw what happened jumped all over the referee and shouted and hollered at him so much that they couldn't get the next game started.
Finally, he pulled off the striped jersey and headed for the door. He doesn't officiate anymore.
Of course, the downside is that when I mentioned it to the bishop, he wouldn't clear me to play, instead he took it as an opportunity for me to focus on my calling as the Scoutmaster.
I didn't play for the rest of the season and this year, we didn't have any basketball at all in our stake.
Jace H. - CA (submitted on 2006-05-18)
It was Last year when the three best teams in our stake were finally at their peaks and it was expected to be the most competitive and entertaining season ever. My home team, Rancho Vista Ward was favored to win. We had won the previous six years. Unfortunately our stake had just established a singles ward so I was drafted by them being 21 years old. If you have ever been to an event where a singles ward participates, you know it isnt the prettiest site. Well unfortunately our team was eliminated early and I wasnt able to play in the big games. But being the true fan I am and also well versed in the rules of the game I volunteered to referee the rest of the games. The season was a big hit. Rancho Vista (RV) was doing very well. It was begining to look like another undefeated year for them. Just when they thought they would coast to the finals, along came Somerset ward. Somerset had had a few ringers move into their ward the last year and were very good this year. After thirty five minutes of play RV was up by one point. It was an intense game. Both teams were heated. It was getting very difficult for me to keep the peace being only one referee. The game continued to get feirce as both teams became more and more physical. I was fearful for some of my friends in my home ward as the two teams started threatening each other. This continued on until the score was 56 to 57 in favor of the Somerset ward with 13 seconds to go. RV had the ball and through a struggle forced up a shot that unbelievably went in to win the game. I couldnt believe it, they couldnt believe it, but most of all the other ward couldnt believe they had just lost like that. As the celebration commenced on the bench of RV I smirked at how excited they were and started to walk towards my friends. To my suprise I heard an angry voice behind me say "The worst ref ever!" I turned to see where it came from and there stands an estimated 320 pound 6'2" Tongan with a ball in his hand. Me being half his size, I turned back around and walked away. I heard it one more time but this time it was accompanied by a ball whizing past my head. I then said I'm sorry he felt that way and walked away a second time. This time I didnt hear a voice but thundering steps as I turned to meet a huge fist in my face. The blow knocked me back and as I caught my balance a second blow from the right coming from his brother, an equally sized man who obviously felt the same about my inability to call the game. This time it sent me to the floor and I began to be pummled with kicks from both sides as the other bystanders finally realized what was happening and came to my aid and broke it up. An unfortunate ending to a spectacular game. Both "gentlemen" were banned from playing with us and I havent reffed since. If it werent for my love of the game itself I would probably never play again.
Craig M. - CA (submitted on 2006-05-01)
I was almost late arriving to school in Southern Virginia because my roommate to be wanted to play a game of church ball before we left to drive across country. We arrived at 3:45 AM on the day school started.